The-Hogs.net - Washington Football Discussion, Redskins to Commanders Era

Change is nothing new, according to Portis

Many players have expressed frustration with the team's 2-4 record that includes four losses to teams that did not have a victory before they faced the Redskins. And some have privately described things behind the scenes as being in "chaos."

The upheaval occurring at Redskins Park, however, is nothing new to top running back Clinton Portis, who in six seasons with Washington has been involved in many unsettling situations.

"I've been enduring change since I've been here," Portis said Wednesday. "All of a sudden it's like take notice. It's like all of a sudden. This is not the first year that our line went down. It's like six years straight that our line went down. It's not the first year that we had a change. Every year, even when coach [Joe] Gibbs was here, we had three or four different coordinators. It's all of a sudden like a surprise, 'Oh, they got a new coordinator.'

It seems "we done had a new coordinator every year. We done had somebody new calling the plays. We done had something different. We done had new linemen. We done had a new this, a new that, a change in quarterback. All of a sudden it become shock. That's what it is around here - change. In the midst of that change, it bring news for ya'll [reporters]."

Some players are hanging their heads about the situation - which includes management's ongoing undermining of Coach Jim Zorn - but Portis "can't do nothing but handle it with humor. I can't keep moping around and everybody's sad and don't talk to each other.

"A couple of my teammates didn't even speak to me. I walked in, [wide receiver Santana Moss] didn't even speak to me. And [quarterback] Jason [Campbell] tried to let the door hit me in the face. I don't know what the ... I watched him look at me and then let the door slam in my face."

Not true, says Campbell.

"He was walking behind me. I didn't know he was that close," Campbell said. "He said, 'Darn, J, you ain't got to be that upset at everybody.' I said, 'I'm not upset.' It's a time to refocus, re-energize, find the inner energy and start over."

It seems the Redskins may be starting over again soon with a new head coach and, quite possibly, many new players. And with so much change since Daniel Snyder has owned the franchise, could the Redskins ever win another Super Bowl this way?

"I never won a Super Bowl, so I don't know how you win it," Portis said. "I think we're going to keep changing until we get the right pieces to win the Super Bowl. Hopefully, my career will still be going and I'll still be here at that time."

chiefhog44 wrote:He's gone with a new coach. I've always said I thought this guy is a cancer...great runner, but just not someone you want on your team because of the things he does off the field. Throwing fellow teammates, coaches and now management under the bus. Should try to trade him this year for drat picks.

Portis misses practice with lower-leg problems

Running back Clinton Portis sat out practice today because of leg problems.

"It's really one leg," he said. "It's just my right leg. I've got plantar faciitis, an ankle, the inside of my MCL, and a calf all on my right leg. So if I can get a new lower leg, I'll be fine."

In the 14-6 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs, Portis rushed for a season-high 109 yards on 15 carries (a 7.3-yard average). He gained 78 yards on one rush in the third quarter - the longest gain of his career.

Portis acknowledged he has not had much interaction with new play-caller Sherman Lewis, who came out of retirement about two weeks ago to serve as an offensive consultant. Owner Daniel Snyder promoted Lewis, 67, to call plays after stripping Jim Zorn of the responsibility following the team's latest dreary loss to a formerly winless team, which has occurred four times this season.

Lewis is unfamiliar with the team's personnel and knows little about Washington's running game, but Portis expects the running game to work well.

"It ain't hard, I mean, you either run gut, counter, stretch, toss, dive, or draw," Portis said. "You can call it however you want to call it, but them are the only runs in football. For him to be an offensive coordinator for as long as he has, I'm sure he knows that as well. Maybe it's the formations. I don't know why he would say that, but I don't think it's too hard to call the running game."

chiefhog44 wrote:He's gone with a new coach. I've always said I thought this guy is a cancer...great runner, but just not someone you want on your team because of the things he does off the field. Throwing fellow teammates, coaches and now management under the bus. Should try to trade him this year for drat picks.

DEHog wrote:Calm down if you saw the clip of this they were clearly joking and having some fun...amazing how the media can spin these things.